Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhongli City and Taichung

For one person, living is cheaper in Zhongli City: $1,005 a month against $1,112 in Taichung, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Zhongli City, Taiwan
Taichung, Taiwan
Zhongli City
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,005
/mo nomad
Taichung
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,112
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zhongli City and in Taichung

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Zhongli City and in Taichung actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Zhongli City versus $1,112 in Taichung.

  • Zhongli City $1,005
  • Taichung $1,112

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,698 in Zhongli City versus $1,856 in Taichung.

  • Zhongli City $1,698
  • Taichung $1,856

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,392 in Zhongli City versus $2,601 in Taichung.

  • Zhongli City $2,392
  • Taichung $2,601

Living in Zhongli City costs roughly 10% less than in Taichung, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zhongli City 26% lower, Taichung 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.60 NT$150
$4.69 NT$153
-1.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.45 NT$993
$31.30 NT$1,021
-2.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 NT$158
$4.64 NT$151
4.74%
Cappuccino
$2.52 NT$82.3
$2.89 NT$94.4
-12.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 NT$32.20
$1.03 NT$33.52
-3.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 NT$22.12
$0.76 NT$24.62
-10.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 NT$48.99
$1.50 NT$48.83
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 NT$87.4
$2.66 NT$86.8
0.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.22 NT$105
$3.08 NT$101
4.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 NT$54.5
$1.65 NT$53.7
1.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 NT$85.3
$2.59 NT$84.3
1.16%
Eggs
$2.51 NT$81.7
$2.54 NT$82.9
-1.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.15 NT$396
$28.53 NT$930
-57.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.60 NT$215
$7.76 NT$253
-14.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.66 NT$511
$16.59 NT$541
-5.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 NT$119
$4.21 NT$137
-13.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 NT$60.5
$1.94 NT$63.2
-4.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 NT$95.6
$3.01 NT$98.2
-2.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 NT$69.5
$2.13 NT$69.5
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 NT$39.89
$1.21 NT$39.53
0.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 NT$60.5
$1.93 NT$63.0
-3.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 NT$74.7
$2.25 NT$73.5
1.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 NT$28.56
$0.89 NT$29.05
-1.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.80 NT$124
$3.79 NT$124
0.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.54 NT$507
$15.10 NT$492
2.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 NT$50.2
$1.60 NT$52.0
-3.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 NT$78.9
$2.43 NT$79.1
-0.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 NT$19.37
$0.63 NT$20.59
-6.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.95 NT$1,107
$18.67 NT$609
81.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 NT$83.8
$2.58 NT$84.0
-0.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 NT$16.84
$0.90 NT$29.30
-42.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.25 NT$301
$9.19 NT$300
0.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 NT$31.02
$1.04 NT$33.92
-8.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K NT$1.1M
$35.3K NT$1.2M
-2.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K NT$726.4K
$22.2K NT$725.0K
0.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 NT$3,288
$122 NT$3,981
-17.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.83 NT$484
$14.52 NT$473
2.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.67 NT$544
$20.46 NT$667
-18.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.46 NT$1,189
$31.28 NT$1,020
16.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.39 NT$372
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.03 NT$327
$10.22 NT$333
-1.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$332 NT$10.8K
$326 NT$10.6K
1.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.7K NT$543.5K
$16.5K NT$536.4K
1.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.3 NT$2,323
$71.8 NT$2,340
-0.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 NT$1,140
$35.78 NT$1,167
-2.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.6 NT$1,749
$81.7 NT$2,662
-34.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 NT$3,437
$111 NT$3,610
-4.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 NT$14.4K
$382 NT$12.5K
15.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 NT$8,019
$266 NT$8,667
-7.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$857 NT$28.0K
$1,188 NT$38.7K
-27.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$720 NT$23.5K
$739 NT$24.1K
-2.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,314 NT$205.9K
$5,811 NT$189.5K
8.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,301 NT$140.2K
$4,266 NT$139.1K
0.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhongli City
Taichung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,257 NT$73.6K
$1,400 NT$45.6K
61.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.1
2.27
-7.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Zhongli City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Taichung: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Zhongli City
$308
Taichung
$368 19.3% $59
Accommodation & Living
Zhongli City
$246
Taichung
$266 8.1% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhongli City
$132
Taichung
$157 18.7% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Zhongli City
$119
Taichung
$135 13.1% $16
Eating Out
Zhongli City
$101
Taichung
$106 4.9% $5
Sport & Entertainment
Zhongli City
$57
Taichung
$52 8.5% $4.8
Getting Around
Zhongli City
$41
Taichung
$28 31.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Zhongli City and $382 in Taichung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhongli City pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30 in Zhongli City vs $31 in Taichung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $368 per month, with Zhongli City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇼 Zhongli City
🇹🇼 Taichung
🕒 Local time
10:11 10:11 AM
10:11 10:11 AM
Same time as Zhongli City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
396,453
2,767,239
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to TWD – New Taiwan Dollar Converter

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 32.61 TWD (100 TWD = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 36.41 TWD (100 TWD = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Zhongli City Taichung 110 km
From you
  • Zhongli City
  • Taichung

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Zhongli City vs Taichung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zhongli City or Taichung?
Zhongli City wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Taichung. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Zhongli City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Zhongli City or in Taichung?
Average pay runs 61% higher in Zhongli City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Zhongli City compared to Taichung?
Rent for a central apartment: $440 in Zhongli City versus $382 in Taichung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Zhongli City and in Taichung?
Dining out is cheaper in Zhongli City – a meal for two runs $30 versus $31 in Taichung. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Zhongli City compared to Taichung?
All in, you’ll spend $1,005 per month in Zhongli City versus $1,112 in Taichung – Zhongli City is about 10% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Zhongli City or in Taichung?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Zhongli City gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How safe is Zhongli City compared to Taichung?
Safety-wise, Zhongli City and Taichung are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Zhongli City vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?